Biography
Born in Philadelphia and now based in Los Angeles, the performer draws deep influence from the polished, melodic textures of 1990s R&B and first surfaced in the early 2020s under producer Harmony Samuels, founder of B.O.E. Records.
She began singing in church at age five and spent seven years sharpening her craft, beginning at ten, at Philadelphia’s Prince Music Theater. Music surrounded her upbringing, with constant support from her father, a member of Golden Chandeliers. After leaving the city’s Creative and Performing Arts High School, she earned a BA in Music Business and Performance at Millersville University. The degree path opened internships at Def Jam and Philadelphia International and raised the possibility of a legal career, yet she chose performance instead. A successful New York audition led to her role as a backing singer for Lady Gaga on the Monster Ball tour.
Intent on establishing herself independently, she made her solo live debut in 2013 at Philadelphia’s Theatre of Living Arts. The stage name she selected drew from Chiaki Kuriyama’s depiction of Gogo Yubari in Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 film Kill Bill: Volume 1. In 2014 she supported Marsha Ambrosius and Danity Kane on east coast dates. Later appearances included Roots Picnic 2016 and a headline slot on a Red Bull Sound Select bill. Work with Ryan Toby, formerly of New Jersey R&B/hip hop trio City High, led to an introduction to Samuels, who brought her to Los Angeles. During that first productive West Coast trip she recorded “In the Way,” completing the vocal in a single take. With a potential record deal ahead, she relocated permanently, taking a nanny position before touring with Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir.
Samuels facilitated her joint signing to Kenya Barris’s Interscope-affiliated Khalabo Records in 2020, securing Universal Music’s promotional and distribution resources. “In the Way” arrived in May 2022, followed two months later by the emotive “I.O.U.” October saw the release of Ready, the first of a planned three-EP series, which included appearances from New Jack Swing originator Teddy Riley, ex-Blackstreet, and Bay Area rapper Symba.
She began singing in church at age five and spent seven years sharpening her craft, beginning at ten, at Philadelphia’s Prince Music Theater. Music surrounded her upbringing, with constant support from her father, a member of Golden Chandeliers. After leaving the city’s Creative and Performing Arts High School, she earned a BA in Music Business and Performance at Millersville University. The degree path opened internships at Def Jam and Philadelphia International and raised the possibility of a legal career, yet she chose performance instead. A successful New York audition led to her role as a backing singer for Lady Gaga on the Monster Ball tour.
Intent on establishing herself independently, she made her solo live debut in 2013 at Philadelphia’s Theatre of Living Arts. The stage name she selected drew from Chiaki Kuriyama’s depiction of Gogo Yubari in Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 film Kill Bill: Volume 1. In 2014 she supported Marsha Ambrosius and Danity Kane on east coast dates. Later appearances included Roots Picnic 2016 and a headline slot on a Red Bull Sound Select bill. Work with Ryan Toby, formerly of New Jersey R&B/hip hop trio City High, led to an introduction to Samuels, who brought her to Los Angeles. During that first productive West Coast trip she recorded “In the Way,” completing the vocal in a single take. With a potential record deal ahead, she relocated permanently, taking a nanny position before touring with Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir.
Samuels facilitated her joint signing to Kenya Barris’s Interscope-affiliated Khalabo Records in 2020, securing Universal Music’s promotional and distribution resources. “In the Way” arrived in May 2022, followed two months later by the emotive “I.O.U.” October saw the release of Ready, the first of a planned three-EP series, which included appearances from New Jack Swing originator Teddy Riley, ex-Blackstreet, and Bay Area rapper Symba.
Albums
Singles
